Mobile mechanically propelled sprinkler



Nov. 20, 1951 c. cs. MUENCH MOBILE MECHANICALLY PROPELLED SPRINKLER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 25, 1948 Nov. 20, 1951 c. G. MUENCH MOBILE MECHANICALLY PROPELLED SPRINKLER 5 Sheet's-'Sheet 2 Nov. 20, 1951 c. G. MUENCH MOBILE MECHANICALLY PRPELLED SPRINKLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I'sfffsf van gy ma. im

ifi/@Me Filed Feb. 25, 1948 Patented Nov. 20, 1951 MOBILE MECHANICALLY PROPELLED SPRINKLER Carl Gebhard Muench, Glenview, Ill. Application February 25, 1948Serial No. 10,769

This invention concerns a lawn sprinkler which can be described as an automatic lawn sprinkler in that it is so constructed that when its operation is started, it will travel along a predetermined path and will water along such path and, finally, when the end of such defined path is reached, it will automatically stop.

The lawn sprinkler, which will be described in detail, embodies the new and improved features constituting it a most versatile piece of apparatus. Of the improvements in construction and operation, the following is considered as those most outstanding.

Whereas, most sprinkler machines which embody a propelling device have but one speed, or itis necessary to remove and replace a gear Wheel with one having a different number of teeth, this machine has a full range of spe-eds up to its maximum, varied by the simple operation of a needle valve.

The motor which propels the device is supplied independently of the supply to the sprinkler head, and thus adjustment of one does not adversely affect the other.

A spray head is used which may be secured against rotation wher-eupon, by suitable adjustment of the spray nozzles thereon, stationary sprays may be directed to either or both sides of the path.

The propelling motor may be rendered inactive by cutting off its supply of propelling iiuid, and in such case the device serves as a stationary, rotating head sprinkler.

Due to the construction, lubrication is not nec essary.

'The construction is such that when the device encounters an obstruction, such as a toy left on the lawn, the entire device is automatically shut ofi.

Any desired type of sprayhead may be mounted on the tractor since, as above referred to, the operation of the one does not aiect the operation of the other.

This machine may be used to water an area along a straight line path or along a curved path, as, for example, it may be set to operate along a straight path and water the lawn along the sides of such path, or, it may be set to follow the curvature of a winding path or a ower bed having a curved perimeter, and in either case the device will follow the predetermined path and suitably water an area along such path, all without attention and other than initial operation.

The automatic watering device hereof is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein, in the 5 Claims. (Cl. 299-49) various figures thereof, similar parts are desig stantially along the `longitudinal center line 0I?V the device.

Figure 4 is a top plan view; Figure 5 is a side elevation of a fragmentary portion of the device; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an accessory.` The automatic watering device hereof com#` prises, basically,a tractor or carriage on whichA1 there is mounted a hydraulic motor and a suit" able watering or spray head. I

The inventions hereof are primarily with re-` spect to the general assemblage and arrange-1 ment of elements of the device, whereby there is` provided an improved automatic watering apparatus which will operate along a predetermined path, and will automatically stop when the end of'isuch` predetermined path has been reached.

A particular object of the invention hereof is the,

provision of anew and improved sprinkler or waterer which is simple in construction and rug ged, and in particular wherein such device, ai.

though propelled by a hydraulic motor, has full supply-water pressure supplied to the sprinkler 3.0," head thereof, whereby .the effectiveness of sprinkling is not reduced due to the association therewith of the hydraulic propelling device. Still other further objects of .theinvention are the improvements of the various details of construei tion of the device and the general operation thereof.

In the drawingsthere is shown a tricycle type tractor, or carriage, which comprises an. elongated frame portion generally designated by the numeral Ilpto which, at the forward end, there is mounted guiding wheel .II, and at the rear I end a pair of tractor wheels` I2. The guiding Wheel II is a grooved wheel having a groove L13` and side flanges I4, whereby the groove I3., being formed as substantially a semi-circle, is adapted forpositioning over a hose I5, whereby the spaced side flanges I4 of the guide wheel II may ride along the sides `of the hose I I5 and be guided in.`

accordance with the positioning of hose Ion-the ground. i i v `Tractorrwheels I2.are provided with suitable lugs I6 or, as will be readily` understoodmayfif desired, have a cleated rubber `tire `or thewlike` mounted on its peripheral surface. The specific form of the lugs or the like oftractorwheels I2` is, of course, immaterial, it merely being required that the peripheries of such wheels be provided with such surface or projections, or the like, that these wheels may propel the device forwardly as such tractor wheels are driven by the hydraulic motor, which will be described in more detail.

Tractor Wheels I2 are journaled on a shaft il which is suitably mounted in the main frame IE, andV the .tractor wheels have suitably mounted thereon ratchet wheels I8 or the like, whereby,.as power is suitably applied to such ratchet wheels, the tractor Wheels I2 may be driven to suitably advance the sprinkler device along its predetermined path.

The guide wheel II is mounted on a shaft 25 which is mounted in a caster construction, gena erally designated by the numeral 2|, and which is provided with a rearwardly extending portion 22 pivoted at 23, the purpose of which construction will be described in` more detail. By the provisionof the -pivoted Vcaster construction, just above described, it is readilyV evident that the caster construction .or assembly 2I may pivot about 23, and this ,construction is provided for the purpose of shutting oli the supply .to the sprinkler` device should it, in. following its path, meet someadventitiousl obstacle, and it may also be utilized for shutting off the device `when it reaches the extremity'. of travelalong its prede termined path. l

suitably mounted on the main frame I there is provided a'hydraulic motor designated generallyby numeral 25, and which, without referring to any detail, `comprises cylinder heads and a pis ton mounted for reciproeationin the cylinder. A piston rod 26 is mounted -in the hydraulic cylinder and carries piston 21. 4Surrounding the pis ton 26 there is provided `a spring 28 which, after piston 2'I has traveled to its outer limit of movement, and upon openingV of the cylinder exhaust valve, serves to return piston 21 to the inner end of its stroke. Piston rodl 26 is hollowfand spring 2-5 is provided thereinjat its-inner end, that is, at the end adiacentV the piston 21. The piston rod. at its inner end, isprovided jwith an opening 32 in its head; and in which there is' mounted valve operating plunger 33provided'with an enlarged headv onv each end thereof, thesuch vheads being designated bv numerals'34 and 35.

InV the outer head 36 ofmotor 25 there is nrovided avent opening 31, and inthe inner cylinder head 38 there'is suitably mounted an exhaust valve 4I) having a stem 4I. which is actually a part-of or'is connected to valve'k operating plunger 33', there'being provided on the* outer end of stem 4I a head 42. Surrounding the exhaust valve stem Il! there isA suitably mounted a springd which is so mounted as to continuously urge exhaust valve 40 to open 30 position. The exhaust valve spring 43 is mounted in a suitable recess in head 38, and bv way of'port 44 communicates with the atmospherethe such port M constituting the evhaust port of the motor.

Also provided in motor head 38 there is a valved opening 45 which is controlledV bv means .ofran adjustable Yneedle valve 46. Finallwinthe head 3R- there is provided' a fluid supply passage 47 through which uid isI supplied; to motor 25,

will he hereinafter more fully set out.

Also. as part of the motor head 38. there lis provided the main fluid inlet of the device, such being designated hv numeral 5I! which opens into motor fluid-snpolvfchannel 41, and yfrom which pine 5I extends to the sprinkler which is motill on the main-frame.- il' cuts off the flowl of uid from the main inlet 55 so that fluid is not supplied to either the motor supply channel 4l or the sprinkler supply pipe 5I. The valve just above referred to comprises a supply valve head 52 mounted on one end of valve stemA 53, and on the other end of which there is mounted a tappet `head *.54. Spring 55 surrounds valve stem 53 and is so mounted betweenv a portion of the motor head 38 and valve -tappet-M that the spring biases the valve to open position.

The operation of the hydraulic motor is that by means `of a hose connected to the main fluid inlet Y55, water under pressure is supplied thereto, iiowing thence into motor fluid supply channel lll, through needle valve opening 15 under control Vof needle valve 43, and into the inner end of the motor cylinder.

Assuming that the motor is just ready to befstarted up, and with'the water pressure cut off, then, due to the action spring 23the motor piston 2l will be atthe inner end of its stroke,

and this will have forcedrthe exhaust kValve III),V

to closed position dueto the cap on :the inner end of piston rod 25 contacting nut like member 35 on valve, Voperatingy plunger l3,3. Now when pressure fluid is admitted to the inner end of the Amotor cylinder, the exhaust valve being closed,` pressure will be exerted upon the inner face of the piston, and pistonZi' will be projected outwardly until Vit reaches the end of its stroke, whereupon, as it approaches the end of its stroke, spring `29 will .be compressed by head 54 of the plunger until such spring overcomes the differential fluid pressure exerted on valve 4G, whereupon valve 4c will4 be lifted from its seat. As soon as valve 4e is lifted from its seat, the pressure iiuid in the cylinder begins to exhaust and flows out through motor exhaust port lili and the pressure being released, spring 28 again returns the piston and piston rod to the inner'end of its stroke and -valve 4i! is again closed, as above referred to.

From the foregoing `it will be seen that the fluid supply divides and is supplied at full pressure to both the motor and to the sprinkler head. That is, theregis no diminution of uid pressure supplied tothe sprinkler dead due to such havingV first passedV through the motor toV operate it to provide the power for moving theY watering device.

On the outer end of piston rod 26 there is mounted a cross Vhead 58 to the vends of which are `pivoted detent levers 59 having a hook-like configuration at their other ends, designated by the numeral 5i?, and which are adapted to cooperate with the teeth on ratchet wheels I8.

From the foregoing it is believed to be clearly apparent that when water is supplied to the motor of the device, the piston will be caused to reciprocate, and through the reciprocation of the piston, the detents will be reciprocated. As the detents are reciprocate@ their outer ends iiii, engaging Vthe teeth'of ratchet wheels I8, drive such wheels forwardly las the piston moves outwardly in its stroke., and as therpiston moves rearwardly or inwardly in its stroke, the detents, due to the fact that they are pivoted, move backwardly and idly so that as the piston reciprocates the entire device will be moved forwardly due to step-by-step rotation imparted to the ratchet wheels which,as previously described, are mounted to the tractor wheels, and consequently the` devicewill be advanced forwardly by a step-by-step movement.

Sprinklersupply pipe extends forwardly and then upwardly, and there is mounted thereon any suitable type of rotating sprinkler head, an embodiment of which has been shown in the drawings and generally designated by numeral 6I. Such sprinkler head is preferably one which can be secured against rotation and which is provided with more or less universally mounted spray heads which are preferably adjustable as to type of spray. These features just referred to not being specifically of the essence of the invention hereof, and such devices being readily available on the market, they will not be described in further detail, since such are well known to those skilled in the art involved.

'I'he rear extension 22 of caster construction 2,I is provided with a pin 62 on which there is mounted a spring 63 and a pull rod 64, the other endof the spring being mounted on a pin 65 provided on main frame I0. The pull rod 64 extends rearwardly from its pivot point, and the outer end thereof serves to operate the main shut-off valve, as will be described. The main shut-off valve 52 of the device, which normally is held in open position by the action of spring 53, may be closed by exerting a closing force to its tappet head 54. Such valve closing force is applied by means of a crank, the arms of which are designated by the numerals 66 and 61, respectively. and which crank is pivoted at the intersection of its arms 66 and 61 on pivots 68 which is mounted on the main frame I0. Crank arm 61, at its outer end, is provided with a suitable slot through which extends the outer end of pull rod 64, such operating freely through such suitable opening in arm 61, but is prevented from pulling therethrough by suitable stop 69 mounted adjacent the end of such pull rod 64. It will be understood that as pull rod 64 may move rearwardly, it may move freely through the opening in crank arm 61, but that when the pull arm goes forwardly, the stop 69 will contact a face of the crank arm 61 to pull this arm forwardly and accordingly move crank arm 56 upwardly. As crank arm 66 moves upwardly, it will act on supply valve tappet head 54 and force valve head 52 to closed position, as is shown in dotted lines.

The operation of the device, as has been described, is as follows: Assuming the supply valve to be open, when fluid pressure is supplied the motor will be reciprocated, and this in turn will, as described, cause the tractor wheels to be revolved, step-by-step, and thus move the device forwardly step-by-step. At the same time, fluid under pressure is supplied to the watering head and the device will water an area about the point where the device is positioned. A flexible guide member I5, which is conveniently a piece of hose, is laid out to define the path which it is desired that the sprinkler shall follow. The device is set down over the guide member with the groove of the guide wheel I3 positioned on the guide means I 5, and as the device moves forwardly step by step, it will follow a path along guide means I5 in a straight line or in an irregular path, in accordance with the manner in which such guide member I5 has been laid out.

It it to be understood, of course, that the sprinkling device does not move forward endlessly. but that means must be provided for discontinuing its operation, either automatically or manually, and to stop the operation of the device at any point it is only necessary to either raise the guide means I 5 at some point, as is shown in Figure 5, as by placing thereunder a stirrup means, such as 10, or to place along the guide means I5 any sort of obstruction at the point at which it is desired to stop the operation of` the sprinkler. In the one case, that is when a device such as stirrup 10 is employed to raise` the guide means I 5, the guide means itself constitutes the device for shutting off operation of the.

along guide means I5, or should any force be ap.

plied to guide Wheel II which will cause it toV pivot on its pivot 23 against the pull of spring 63.v such pivotal movement will cause the pull arm4 641 to move forwardly, whereupon stop 69 on the end thereof will act on crank arm 51 to cause pivotal movement of crank arm 66, which also has the` effect of forcing the main valve 52 to closed position and thus shutting off the sprinkler device From the foregoing description it will be seen that the sprinkler device hereof is one of versatile use. That is, it may be used to sprinkle a large area along a dened path or, by closing needle valve 46, it may be used as a stationary sprinkler, and that in either case large areas may be covered by the sprinkling since the fluid supply is supplied at full pressure directly to the sprinkler head without loss due to its first having passed through a hydraulic motor for propelling the device.

The invention hereof and its mode of operation having been herein set out in complete detail, I claim:

1. A mobile sprinkler comprising an elongated supporting frame, a guiding member mounted to the frame adjacent an end thereof, ground contacting propelling means mounted thereto adjacent the other end thereof, hydraulic power means mounted on the frame, driving means conveying power from the power means and driving the propelling means, and a sprinkler head mounted on the frame; a branched fluid supply conduit also mounted on the frame, a branch thereof connecting to the sprinkler head and another branch thereof connecting to the hydraulic power means, there being interposed in the latter branch adjustable valve means varying the flow thereto by suitable adjustment, a shut-oil? valve interposed in the fluid supply conduit, the guiding member pivotally mounted to the frame and operating means interposed between the guiding member and shut-off valve, whereby upon tilting of the guiding member upon its pivot the shutoff valve is operated to consequently out off the flow of hydraulic fluid through the fluid supply conduit.

2. The device defined in claim 1 in combination with an elongated guide means positioned on the ground, the sprinkler guiding member having a portion straddling such elongated guide means and guided thereby.

3. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the hydraulic power means comprises a reciprocating piston, reciprocating in a cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston, a pivoted detent mounted to the piston and a toothed driving means mounted to the ground contacting propelling means, the pivoted detent being in operative relation to ansehe the" toothed driving -means and'intermittently therebyrotatingthe such propelling means in one direction-to advance the device forwardly stepby-s'tep. 7 Y

i-4.'Apparatus"in operative combination comprising amechanically propelled mobile sprinkler, an elongated guide -means along which the sprinkler travels, the elongated guide member flexible and `capable ofsubstantially conforming to the ordinary lawn contour, the sprinkler having a shut off valve structure and means interposed in the guided path of the sprinkler under the guide means and locally elevating a portion thereof, the elevated portion of the guide means operatively contactingthe shut 01T valve structure and serving to cause `the shut off valve to operate from open to'closed position. y Y

'In a wheeled device, comprising a frame. a'sliut oi device and supporting wheels mounted thereon and means operating the shut oi device operatively connecting a supporting wheel and the shut o device, and wherein a supporting wheel ispivoted to a rocker frame, the rocker frame is in turn pivotally mounted to the frame, a tensioned spring is mounted at one end to the 8 frame and vits other end tothe Arocker frame and biasing the rocker frame to normal operating position, and means Vprovided on the rocker frame mounting the means for operating the shut oi device. l

CARL GEBHARD MUENCH.

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